My first few big games were bowled using a modified suitcase release. I hold the ball at pushaway with the thumb and middle fingers pointing dead to 9 o'clock (I'm righty) and my wrist angled about 45 degrees. I take the ball back that way, and on the downswing unhinge the wrist to about 20 degrees without changing the finger direction, then lift up and through and release while tilting my hand back towards me like I was drinking out of a soda can. The result is a very high 3/4 track with hardly any axis tilt, a short skid and a heavy roll. With the correct core/coverstock combo on the ball, and the right drilling, thrown at the correct speed, the ball is heavy in a roll through the pins. With that style, I'm basically throwing over 12 out to only 10 and then back to the pocket.

I got away from doing that because it wasn't "cool" to go down and in with such speed and roll; you had to cross 100 boards if you were to be considered a great bowler. Also, this release pulls my track up so high that about 1/4 of my balls will thump the finger holes, so I have to watch which equipment I'm throwing that way.

After this summer, bowling on a PBA shot league, I found out that it still has its place -- and at times, gives me an advantage over my competition. My bread and butter is that I can change my axis tilt and axis rotation fairly easily. I just don't always have the accuracy to match. So many young bowlers today only know how to stand left and throw right, playing a big backend, and if that isn't there, they're lost.

Last year, I got away from incorporating elements of that release into my league bowling. Perhaps that's one of the reasons my average dropped.

Jess